Aeroplane.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.

G. WHITEHEAD.

AERUPLANB.

APPLICATION rum) DBO. 20.1905.

2 SHBBTSSHEET 2.

INVENTOI? zzarzami Wife/66482 WITNESSES:

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UNITED sTAtrpsr rE OFFICE.

GUSTAVE WHITEHEAD, CF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO STANLEY YALE BEACH, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT.

. AEROIPLANE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAVE WHITEHEAD, a citizen. of the United States, and a resident of Bridge ort, in the county of Fairfield and State of gonnecticut, have invented a new and Improved Aeroplane, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to aerial navigation, and its object is to provide a newand improved aeroplane arranged to readily maintain its equi ibrium when in flight in the air, to revent upsetting, shooting downward hea foremost, andto sustain considerable Wei ht.

T'e invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forniinga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corres onding parts in all the views 1' igure 1 isaperspective view of the improv'ement as it appears in flight; Fig. 2 is a planview ofthe same; and Fi 3 is a transversesection'of the same, on t e line 33 of Fig. 2.. ='f K'Theb dy A of the aeroplane is trough- "liaped; that is, is made a proximately V- ,shape in cross section, and the said body A is -formed of. a skeleton framework A, covered, atthe under side, by a covering A of canvas I or: other suitable fabric material. In the inforclng framework B, from which depends an open framework C for supporting the aeronaut, preferably by the use of a seat 1),

as plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. From the framework B extends forwardly a bowsprit E, to which is secured the rin F of a head. F, made of canvas or like fa ric material, the rin F being fastened inplace on the bowsprit by suitable fastening means F in the shape of ropes or the like'tied to the I bow-sprit E.

The head F has sides forming continuations of the sides of the body A, and the bottom of this head F is inclined upwardly and forwardly, to terminate in the ring F, in which also terminate the forward ortions of the sides of the head F: Thus, t e sides of the head Fiare both inclined toward each Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 20, 1995.

front portion'of the body A is'arranged a re-' the body A of the aeroplane.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Serial No. 292.614.

other, and also upwardly and forwardlyfrom the forward ends of the body A. The rear portions of thesides of the body A are ex-' tended upwardly and outwardly in the same planes containing the sides of the body A, so that the extenslons form a tail G, which,

with the head F, maintains the aeroplane in I proper e uilibrium, at the same time preventing t e aeroplane from shooting do head foremost in case of contrary winds; the like.

From the upper edges of the sides of the Q body A extend wings H, slightly curved upwardly and outwardly, as plainly illustrated in the drawings, each of the wings H ternn: nating at its rear end at the beginning of the corresponding side of the tail G, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. Each of the wingsHxis formed of canvas or other suitable fabric ma:- terial. attached to ribs H radiating from the front end of the body A at the. top of the sides, as plainly shown in Fig. 2, the outer ends of the ribs H being curved-upwardly,

as at H (see Figs. 1 and 3), to hold the outer edge of the canvas H likewise curved upwardly.

In the framework B and that of the body A is secured and erected a mastI, and the several ribs H of the wings H are connected by upwardly and inwardly-extending braces J, with a single brace J attached to the-'top of the mast I. Similar braces J 2 extend from the ribs H downwardly and inwardly, toconnect with the single brace J attachedto the suspension means C. Thus the wings H, H are properly braced, both at the top and bottom, to maintain their position relative to The foremost ribs H of the wings H, H extend approximately at right angles to the body A, at the front end thereof, and the said foremost ribs H are connected .bybracesK, K with the bow-sprit E,- as plainly indicated in the drawings.

A brace L aslo connects the bowsprit E with the mast I, to give the desired strength to the entire structure, so as to enable the aeroplane to withstand heavy wind pressures without danger of disarrangement of the parts.

By constructing the body A in the manner described and providing the same with the head F, tail G and the Wings H, H, a com plete equilibrium of the aeroplane is mainthe head being inclined toward each other said body, a mast rising from the said body tained when in flight'in theair, and at the and terminating in a point coinciding with same time the aeroplane is prevented from the forward end of the bottom of the head, upsetting or shooting down, head foremost, and a bowspritattached to the said body and as the inclined sides of the head F offer suffisupporting the forward end of the said head.

. cient resistance to the air in the descent of 7 An aeroplane'provided with a troughthe aeroplane that the body A thereof is like body terminating in a head and having righted or pushed upward, so as to maintain the rear portions of its sides extended upthe body A practically at all times in a horiwardly and outwardly to form a tail, and zontal position. wings secured to the said body and extending The aeroplane is very simple and durable outwardly and upwardly from the upper in construction, and the several parts are edges of the front portions of the sides of the connected with each other and braced to such said body. an extent as to form an exceedingly strong 8. An aeroplane provided with a troughand durable structure. like body terminating in a head and having Having thus' described my invention, I the rear portions of its sides extended upclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters wardly and outwardly, to form a tail, and Patent wings secured to the said body and extending 1. An aeroplane provided with a -trough outwardly and upwardly from the upper like body terminating in a head and having edges of the forward portions of the sides of the rear portions of its sides extended upthe said body and between the said head and wardly and outwardly, to form a tail. the said tail.

2. An aeroplane provided with a body ap-' 9. An aeroplane provided with a troughproximately V-shaped in cross section and like body terminating in a head and having terminating at its front end in a head, the the rear portions of its sides extended up- 25 bottom of which is inclined upwardly and wardly and outwardly, to form a tail, wings forwardly, and the sides of the head forming secured to the said body and extending outextensions of the sides of the body. wardly and upwardly from the upper edges 3. An aeroplane provided with a body apof the forward portions of the sides of the proximately V-shaped in cross section and said body and between the said head and the terminating at its front end in a head, the said tail, a mast rising in the said body, and bottom of which isinclined upwardly andbraces extending from the said mast to the forwardly, and the sides of the head forming said wings at points between the outer and extensions of the sides of the body, the head inner ends thereof. sides and the head bottom terminating at a 10. An aeroplane provided. with a trough- 35 point Iyingin a horizontal plane containing like body terminating in a head and having the top of the said body. the rear portions of its sides extended up- 4. An aeroplane provided with a body apwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, wings proximately V-shaped in cross section and secured to the said body and extending out-- terminating at its front end in a head, the wardly and upwardly from the upper edges bottom of which is inclined upwardly and of the forward portions of the sides of the forwardly, and the sides of the head forming said body, a mast rising from the said body extensions of the sides of the body, the head at a point somewhat in the rear of the front sides and head bottom terminating at a point end thereof, and braces extending from the intersected by a horizontal plane and a vertisaid mast to the said wings. cal plane, of which the latter passes longitu- 11. An aeroplane provided with a troughdinally through the bottom of the said body, like body termmatinginahead and having the and the horizontal plane extends through the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly top of the body. and outwardly, to form a tail, wings secured 5. An aeroplane provided with a body apto the said body and extending outwardly proximately V-sha ed in cross section and and upwardly from the upper edges of the terminating at its ront end in a head, the forward portions of the sides of the said body, bottom of which is inclined upwardly and a. mast rising in the said body, a bowsprit exforwardly, and the sides of the head forming tending from the said body and supporting extensions of the sides of the body, the sides the front end of the said head, and a brace exof the head being inclined toward each other tending from the said mast to the said howand terminating in a point coinciding with sprit. the forward end of the bottom of the head. 12. An aeroplane provided with a trough- 6. An aeroplane provided with a body aplike body terminating in a head and having proximately V-shaped in cross section and the rear portions of its sides extended upterminating at its front end in a head, the wardly and outwardly, to form a tail, wings bottom of which is inclined upwardly and forsecured to the said body and extending outwardly, and the sides of the head forming exwardly and upwardly from the upper edges tensions of the sides of the body, the sides of of the forward portions of the sides of the at a point somewhat in the rear of the front end thereof, braces extending from the said mast to the said wings, a bowsprit extending rom the said body and engaged by the front end of the said head, and braces extending from the said bowsprit to the front edges of the said wings.

13. An aeroplane provided with a body approximately V-shaped in cross section and terminating at its front end in a head, the bottom of which is inclined upwardly and forwardly, and the sides of the head forming extensions of the sides of the body, the sides of the head being inclined toward each other and terminating in a point coinciding with the forward end of the bottom of the head, a bowsprit attached to the said body and supporting the forward end of the said head, and a suspension means depending from the said body near the front thereof.

14. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardlv and outwardly, to form a tail, and wings secured to the said body andextending outwardly and upwardly fromthe upper edges of the forward portions of the sides of the said body, each of the wings consisting of fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body.

15. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, and wings secured to the said body and extending outwardly and upwardly from the up er edges of the front portions of the sides of the said body, each of'the wings consisting of fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body, the forward ribs of the wings extending a proximately at right angles to the said bo y. I w

16. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, and

wings secured to the said body and extending outwardly and upwardly from the upper edges of the forward portion of the sides of the said body, each of'the wings consisting of a fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body and curved upward at their outer ends.

17. An aeroplane provided with a body approximately V-shaped in cross section and terminating at its front end in a head, the

bottom of which'is' inclined upwardly and forwardly, and the sides of the head forming extensions of the sides of the body, the sides of the head being inclined toward each other and terminatin in a point coinciding with the forward end 0 the bottom of the head, a bowsprit attached to the said body and supporting the forward end of the said head, a

mast rising from the front portion of the said body, a suspension means depending from the said body near the front thereof, braces connecting the said mast with the said wings, and braces connecting the suspension means with the said wings.

18. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, wings secured to the said body and extending outwardly and upwardly from the. upper edges of the forward portions of the sides of .the said body, each of the wings being formed of fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body, a mast rising from the front end of the said body, a bowsprit extending forwardly from the front portion of the said body and supporting the front end of the said head, a suspension means depending from the front portion of the said body,

braces connecting the said mast with the ribs of the said wings, and braces connecting the said suspension means with the said ribs.

19. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, wings secured to the said body and extending outwardly and upwardly from the upper edgesof the forward portions of the sides of the said body, each of the wings being formed of fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body, a mast rising from the front end of the said body, a bowsprit extending forwardly from the front portion of the said body and supporting the front end of the said head, a suspension means depending from the front portion of the said body,.

braces connecting the said mast with the ribs of the said wings, braces connecting the said suspension means with the sald ribs, and

braces connecting the foremost ribs with the said bowsprit.- 20. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating in a head and having the rear portions of its sides extended upwardly and outwardly, to form a tail, Wings secured to the said body and extending out wardly and upwardly from the upper edges of the forward portions of the sides of the said body, each of the wings being formed of fabric material and ribs radiating from the front end of the body, a mast rising from the front end'of the said body, a bowsprit extending forwardly from the front portion of the said body and supporting the front end of the said head, a suspension means depending from the front portion of the said body,

21. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body terminating at its front end in a head and having its rear portion provided with a tail.

22. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body having a head and a tail, and wings secured to the said body and extending outwardly and upwardly from the sides of the said body.

23. An aeroplane provided with a troughlike body having a head and a tail, and wings 

